Sphagnum Research Articles

Carbon emissions from Australian Sphagnum peatlands increase with feral horse (Equus caballus) presence

Peatlands are globally significant carbon sinks, but when disturbed, have the potential to release carbon back to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases. Feral horse populations in the Australian Alps degrade Sphagnum peatlands, which are highly sensitive to disturbance. However, the link between this degradation and peatland carbon cycling is not understood. Here, we compared the autumn daytime carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes of 12 alpine and subalpine Sphagnum peatlands in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. The presence of feral horses at these sites was correlated with higher carbon loss: sites with horses were losing carbon to the atmosphere (4.83 and 8.18 g CO2-e m−2 d−1 in areas of Sphagnum moss and bare soil, respectively), whereas sites without horses were removing carbon from the atmosphere (−6.39 g CO2-e m−2 d−1). Sites with feral horses also had higher soil bulk density, temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC), and higher water pH, EC, and turbidity, than sites without horses. Our findings suggest that excluding feral horses from peatland areas could reduce rates of carbon loss to the atmosphere, in addition to improving overall site condition, peat soil condition, and water quality. We discuss potential management applications, further research, and restoration opportunities arising from these results.

Meta‐analysis reveals that enhanced practices accelerate vegetation recovery during peatland restoration

The provision of critical ecosystem services like carbon sequestration by peatlands has been degraded around the globe. Peatland restoration represents an opportunity to tackle the twin global emergencies of climate breakdown and biodiversity decline. Nonetheless, restoration success relies on a sound understanding of recovery trajectories associated with different restoration techniques. Focusing on temperate/boreal Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands, we used a quantitative meta‐analysis of 28 studies representing 275 sites in 11 countries to test for effects of peatland status (intact, restored, and degraded), varying restoration interventions and time since restoration on vegetation as a key indicator of peatland condition and functioning. Enhanced restoration (such as active revegetation) resulted in recovery to predisturbance levels within 30–35 years for Sphagnum mosses, and 20–25 years for many other peatland specialist species, and was the only restoration approach where positive outcomes were seen across all vegetation response variables. The use of standard restoration techniques, such as rewetting, was projected to result in cover of Sphagnum mosses and peatland specialist plants reaching that of intact sites within 45–55 years post‐restoration. Passive restoration (cessation of the degrading activity with no active restoration) generally elicited limited recovery of keystone peatland vegetation (Sphagnum spp.) even after multiple decades. A lack of standardization in monitoring severely constrains the analysis of peatland restoration outcomes. Increased funding for monitoring and reporting outcomes, and improved monitoring consistency, could greatly enhance our understanding of peatland restoration ecology and improve practice.

A Study of Dominant Vegetation Phenology in a Sphagnum Mountain Peatland Using In Situ and Sentinel‐2 Observations

AbstractPeatlands store more than a third of the global soil organic carbon stock. Bryophytes, more specifically Sphagnum mosses, play a major role in the carbon and water cycles of these ecosystems. There is a need to include Sphagnum mosses into Earth system models to better simulate the dynamics of peatlands in a changing environment. Leaf area index (LAI) is a key plant trait that characterizes the plant photosynthesizing capacity. Moreover, LAI is a variable calculated by land surface models used in climate models, allowing control of the exchange of matter and energy between vegetation and the environment. There is extremely little data on Sphagnum LAI and none on its seasonal change. We monitored Sphagnum mosses LAI phenology in a mountainous peatland site (altitude of 1,343 m) from June to December 2021 using two methods: 2D scans of monthly Sphagnum moss samples and analysis of Sentinel‐2 images. LAI derived from field campaigns and the remote sensing approach show a strong seasonality, with high peak values reaching 10 and 7 m2·m−2, respectively. The Sentinel‐2 images were also used to derive common vegetation indices. The moisture soil index effectively discriminates Sphagnum‐dominated areas in the peatland. Satellite‐derived LAI of Sphagnum mosses is directly correlated to gross primary production monitored by gas exchange measurements (R2 = 0.83) but also to physical drivers of the environment such as air temperature (R2 = 0.74) or water table depth (R2 = 0.61) over the 2017–2021 period. It is therefore highly suitable to investigate ecosystemic functions.

Effect of propagation dates, media and auxins treatments on rooting of Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) semi-hard wood cuttings

This experiment was carried out from 15th October, 2021 to 15th May, 2022 in the plastic house in Duhok city, Iraq. A study included the effect of three factors, the first one is two different propagation dates 15th October and 15th December, second one is three propagation media includes peat moss + perlite (1:1), sand + perlite (1:1) and peat moss + sand + perlite (1:1:1), and third one included three auxin concentrations includes (control, 3000 IBA+1500 NAA and 6000 IBA + 3000 mg. L-1 NAA) on the rooting of Cupressus macrocarpa semi-hard wood cuttings. The results analyzed by (RCBD) design and indicated that the planting of cuttings at 15th October significantly gave the best results of all studied characters (rooting percentage (51.11%) and shoots characters) as compared with those date in 15th December which gave the lowest values. As for propagation media had significant effect only on rooting characters, the best results of rooting obtained when cuttings planted in both of (sand + perlite) and (sand + peat moss + perlite) media but the media hadn’t any significant effects on shoot characters. Auxin treatment meaningfully affected on rooting ability of cuttings, high concentrations of auxins (6000 IBA+3000 NAA mg.L-1) gave the best results of rooting characters comparison with low concentration (3000 IBA+1500 NAA mg.L-1) and control (0 mg.L-1) but hadn’t any significant effects on shoots characters. Generally, the interaction among three factors showed that the planting of cutting treated with both concentrations of auxins in both of (sand + perlite) and (sand + peat moss + perlite) media at 15th October provided the best results of rooting percentage and improve most roots and shoots characters.

Protocol: an improved method for inducing sporophyte generation in the model moss Physcomitrium patens under nitrogen starvation

BackgroundLand plants exhibit a haplodiplontic life cycle, whereby multicellular bodies develop in both the haploid and diploid generations. The early-diverging land plants, known as bryophytes, have a haploid-dominant life cycle, in which a short-lived multicellular body in the diploid generation, known as the sporophyte, develops on the maternal haploid gametophyte tissues. The moss Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens has become one of the most powerful model systems in evolutionary plant developmental studies. To induce diploid sporophytes of P. patens, several protocols are implemented. One of the conventional approaches is to grow approximately one-month-old gametophores for another month on Jiffy-7 pellets made from the peat moss that is difficult to fully sterilize. A more efficient method to obtain all tissues throughout the life cycle should accelerate studies of P. patens.ResultsHere, we investigated the effect of nitrogen conditions on the growth and development of P. patens. We provide an improved protocol for the sporophyte induction of P. patens using a BCD-based solid culture medium without Jiffy-7 pellets, based on the finding that the formation of gametangia and subsequent sporophytes is promoted by nitrogen-free growth conditions. The protocol consists of two steps; first, culture the protonemata and gametophores on nitrogen-rich medium under continuous light at 25 °C, and then transfer the gametophores onto nitrogen-free medium under short-day and at 15 °C for sporophyte induction. The protocol enables to shorten the induction period and reduce the culture space.ConclusionsOur more efficient and shortened protocol for inducing the formation of sporophytes will contribute to future studies into the fertilization or the diploid sporophyte generation of P. patens.

Clonal propagation and hardening of epiphytic orchids (Aerides multiflora and Rhyncostylis retusa) for sustainable conservation and utilization

The study involves devising an efficient method for in vitro protocorm-based plant production, as well as ex vitro establishment of Aerides multiflora and Rhynchostylis retusa. Both the orchids fall prey to the unscrupulous collection from the wild as they are widely used in the traditional medicinal system. Tissue culture technology can be effectively used for mass production of both the orchid species if the planned methodology is used for transplanting the regenerated plantlets into field conditions. MS medium supplemented with natural additives proved to be most optimal for protocorm development from seed explants (giving an average of 94 % to 97 % germination) and further multiplication while Mitra medium was best suited for complete plantlet regeneration from cultured protocorms. In A. multiflora an average of 3.33 shoots and 2.67 roots per protocorm, and in R. retusa mean number of 4.33 shoots and 3.10 roots per protocorm could be obtained on Mitra medium. Tissue culture raised plantlets of both the orchids were hardened in vitro and then shifted under polyhouse conditions. Peat moss, coconut husk, bark shavings, charcoal, and brick pieces, in varying combinations, were tried for optimal growth. Based on the best plantlet survival rate, 90 % in A. multiflora and 100 % in R. retusa, the growth medium combination of peat moss with charcoal, and bark shavings was selected to be the most optimal for orchid growth when kept at a temperature of 25–30 °C, relative humidity 60–70 %, and periodic watering only to avoid drying. The standardized methodology can be utilized for the field plantation of these two important orchids as a means of conservation and propagation strategy.

Physiological Behavior of Native Avocado in Nursery

In the State of Guerrero, Mexico, there are several types of native avocados that grow in backyards which die mainly because of adverse environmental conditions and various harmful activities of farmers. This study is one of the pioneers in the area. The aim of this research was to follow the growth in nursery and the physiological behavior of 12 native avocados from the municipality of Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico, in order to explore their possible use as rootstocks. Thus, 20 fruits per tree of each genotype were harvested, and they were sown on substrate (85% river lama, 5% peat moss and 10% agrolite), at one month of age. A randomized complete block design was used with 12 treatments (each genotype was considered as treatment) and four repetitions. An analysis of variance and Tukey's means tests were performed (P ≤ 0.01 and 0.05) and LSD (P ≤ 0.05). The most vigorous rootstock was OME-7, followed by OME-10. The OME-7 showed higher NO3- and Na+ content; while OME-8, was superior in K+ and Ca++. The length*width of the avocado leaves, multiplied by its conversion factor (0.991), estimated a foliar area very similar to that obtained by the leaf area integrator. It was concluded that the OME-7, OME-3 and OME-10 rootstocks, were the most vigorous and they meet all the characteristics to be used as rootstocks.

Effect of Shading, Substrate, and Container Size on Argania spinosa Growth and Cost–Benefit Analysis

The production of argan seedlings in nurseries is considered a crucial step for the success of any argan forest regeneration program since it increases the rate of survival and growth. Therefore, the substrate and container play a vital role in argan seedling production, while the use of shade may improve soil moisture and decrease the water stress of the plant. This study aims to determine the effects of these factors and their interactions. For this, the effects of four shade levels (0%, 20%, 40%, and 80%) and six different compositions of the substrate, as well as four different sizes and forms of containers, on argan seedling production were studied for six months under greenhouse conditions, based on analyzing the leaf mineral elements and measuring morphological traits. According to the studied parameters, the results show that 0% and 40% of shade are, respectively, the best shade levels for growth, while the germination rate is higher only in an unshaded compartment (85.28%). Furthermore, the substrate based on peat moss lead to one of the higher germination rates (78.75%) and the finest plants in terms of chlorophyll content, and shoot and root growth, while the largest container (C2) had the best shoot and root growth with 34.34 cm of root length. However, the mineral analysis, mainly the leaf total nitrogen concentration, is correlated with morphological traits. In addition, the cost–benefit analysis study confirmed this finding and valorizes the use of S1 substrate (1/2 black peat and 1/2 blond peat) and a C2 container (volume: 3100 mL) since it is considered the most efficient and economic combination for different shade levels.

Mitigating Carbon Emissions: The Impact of Peat Moss Feeding on CH4 and CO2 Emissions during Pig Slurry Storage

The present study investigated the impact of peat moss as a feed additive on the emission of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from piggery slurry stored in slurry pits. There is no well-known study on the relationship between pig manure generated after feeding peat moss as a feed additive and CH4 and CO2 released during the storage period. A lab-scale experiment was conducted for two months using a slurry pit simulator composed of six vessels—three for pig slurry collected after feeding 3.0% peat moss as a feed additive (PFS) and three for pig slurry without feeding peat moss (CTL). PFS reduced CO2 and CH4 emissions (p < 0.05) from stored pig slurry by approximately 23% and 44%, respectively. PFS exhibits substantially elevated concentrations of humic substance (HS) such as humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin compared with CTL, with fold differences of 2.3, 1.8, and 1.1, respectively. Elevated HS levels in the PFS seemed to limit hydrolysis, resulting in lower total volatile fatty acid concentrations compared with CTL. A dominance of CH4 in total carbon emissions was observed (p < 0.05), with CH4 accounting for approximately 93% and 95% of total carbon emissions in PFS and CTL, respectively. PFS had a roughly 43% lower impact on cumulative carbon emissions than CTL, primarily due to decreased CH4 emissions. These findings suggest that PFS may be a promising approach for mitigating carbon emissions and potentially impacting environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts.

Different nursery growing systems and growth media improved germination and seedling growth of fever tea (Lippia javanica)

An experiment was set up in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to examine the influence of nursery growing methods and growth medium on fever, tea germination, and seedling development. Two nursery growth methods (Conventional-CON and Float tray system FTs) and six different growing medium (pine bark, peat moss, coco peat, vermiculite, sand, and cattle manure) were used. ANOVA was used to compare treatment means, and means were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at a 5 % significance level. The nursery growing method and growth material exhibited a strong interaction regarding the germination index, germination percentage, seedling height, leaf area, root length, density, and final crop stand. The float tray approach yielded the greatest germination index for peat moss and the lowest for cattle manure. In the float tray method, peat moss and coco peat had the highest germination percentages, whereas cattle manure had the lowest. Under the float tray technique, the tallest seedlings emerged in peat moss and the smallest in coco peat. Peat moss had the most leaf area in the float tray system, whereas coco peat had the least in the conventional technique. Peat moss in the float tray system had the highest root length density while coco peat in the conventional technique had the lowest. Peat moss in the float tray system had the highest final crop stand, whereas seedlings in the conventional and float tray systems had nothing. based on the findings, it is recommended that fever tea seedlings be grown on peat moss using the float tray method

Compensation of adverse growing media effects on plant growth and morphology by supplemental LED lighting.

There is an increasing interest in alternatives to peat in growing media due to environmental constraints. However, plants grown in peat substitutes often show impaired growth compared to plants grown in peat-based media. Hence, it would be interesting to know whether these deficiencies can be compensated by supplementing other growth factors, e.g. light. The present study aims to investigate the interactive nature between growing media and supplemental lighting on plant growth and morphology, and to examine whether supplemental light emitting diode (LED) lighting may compensate adverse growing media effects. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) were grown in different growing media consisting of peat, green compost, coconut pulp, wood fibre, perlite and sphagnum moss under blue, red and far-red supplemental LED lighting. We found significant interactions between growing media and supplemental photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on plant growth, morphology and development. At low light intensities, peat-based and substituted growing media performed similarly, whereas with increasing light intensities the peat-based growing media significantly outperformed their alternatives. The substrate choice determines the required amount of supplemental light to compensate for adverse growing media effects and the amount varies depending on plant species and season. Thereby, it was indicated that red light alleviates adverse growing media effects best. We also found that far-red light is not effective when background PAR is low and becomes more effective under high background PAR. The implications and prospects of the results are discussed.

Influence of tomato waste composts on dry matter and heavy metals content in cucumber and summer squash seedlings

ABSTRACT Huge quantities of agricultural waste are available annually in Saudi Arabia, which are not well exploited, leading to large environmental pollution and health problems. The use of different proportions of tomato waste compost (TWC) mixed with commercial peat-moss as a natural, economical, cheap and environmentally friendly fertilizer for fertilizing vegetables is very important, therefore, this study is concerned with investigating and evaluating the dry matter content (DM) and the accumulated heavy metal contents (HMs) in the root and leaf seedlings tissues of cucumber and summer squash plants as a result of using this fertilizer. Five ratios of mixtures (vermiculite: peat moss: TWC by weight) used in the experiment, and the TWC in the mixture represents 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% (by wieght). The results indicated that, the DM contents in the root and leaf tissues were relatively close between cucumber and summer squash seedlings. However, they were higher in the root than in leaf tissues, particularly under 20% TWC. A TWC application ratio of 20% reduced concentrations of the most HMs in the two vegetable species seedlings due to high EC and pH levels. The amounts of HMs in vegetable species were not high, which proves the that transfer of HMs from the TWC substrate to the seedlings is determined chiefly by metal bioavailability and by a vegetable species. DM, mineral and nutritional quality of vegetable seedlings showed that substrates containing 5% and 10% TWC appeared to be the most suitable growing medium for economic vegetable seedlings; and it is recommended for use in the nursery production. Implications: The idea of this research revolves around the use of different proportions of tomato waste compost in fertilizing cucumber and summer squash seedlings and investigate the effect of this compost on dry matter (DM) and heavy metal (HMs) contents in the root and leaf tissues of the seedlings, and fruit quality of cucumber and summer squash plants.

Application of central composite design for optimization of bio‐oil production using peat moss

AbstractMost nations have concentrated on reducing greenhouse gas emissions since global warming is such a serious problem. Due to land use changes, the harvesting of peat for use as fuel in homes, and the gardening industry, peat moss from peat bogs or peat fields may cause smoldering fires and release quantities of carbon dioxide. Bio‐fuel is one of the alternative renewable sources created from organic materials. Pyrolysis, a thermochemical process that converts organic materials into substitutes for fossil fuels and used to create biofuel because it is readily available, straightforward, and inexpensive to implement. The feedstock utilized in this experiment was peat moss. Proximate and ultimate analyses were performed using thermogravimetric analysis and elemental analyzer to determine thermal breakdown and elemental characteristics. Pyrolysis was carried out in this work using a prototype lab scale fixed‐bed pyrolysis. Based on prior study, the parameters used are pyrolysis temperature, nitrogen flow rate and reaction time to create the central composite design model. According to the analysis of variance results, pyrolysis temperature and flow rate were significant, however reaction time was not. The effect of flow rate and reaction time on response was explored. The actual bio‐oil yield achieved utilizing the optimal parameters was 10.02 %. The presence of chemical compounds in bio‐oil was measured.

Shading contributes to Sphagnum decline in response to warming.

Experimental warming of an ombrotrophic bog in northern Minnesota has caused a rapid decline in the productivity and areal cover of Sphagnum mosses, affecting whole-ecosystem carbon balance and biogeochemistry. Direct effects of elevated temperature and the attendant drying are most likely the primary cause of the effects on Sphagnum, but there may also be responses to the increased shading from shrubs, which increased with increasing temperature. To evaluate the independent effects of reduction in light availability and deposition of shrub litter on Sphagnum productivity, small plots with shrubs removed were laid out adjacent to the warming experiment on hummocks and hollows in three blocks and with five levels of shading. Four plots were covered with neutral density shade cloth to simulate shading from shrubs of 30%-90% reduction in light; one plot was left open. Growth of Sphagnum angustifolium/fallax and S. divinum declined linearly with increasing shade in hollows, but there was no response to shade on hummocks, where higher irradiance in the open plots may have been inhibitory. Shading caused etiolation of Sphagnum-they were thin and spindly under the deepest shade. A dense mat of shrub litter, corresponding to the amount of shrub litter produced in response to warming, did not inhibit Sphagnum growth or cause increases in potentially toxic base cations. CO2 exchange and chlorophyll-a fluorescence of S. angustifolium/fallax from the 30% and 90% shade cloth plots were measured in the laboratory. Light response curves indicate that maximal light saturated photosynthesis was 42% greater for S. angustifolium/fallax grown under 30% shade cloth relative to plants grown under 90% shade cloth. The response of Sphagnum growth in response to increasing shade is consistent with the hypothesis that increased shade resulting from shrub expansion in response to experimental warming contributed to reduced Sphagnum growth.

Repeated fires in forested peatlands in sporadic permafrost zone in Western Canada

Wildfires play a crucial role in northern boreal peatland ecosystems, influencing the functioning of these ecosystems by affecting vegetation composition and biomass, peat accumulation patterns, and soil carbon stocks. Northern peatland ecosystems are under pressure due to climate warming and increasing anthropogenic stress. The frequency and severity of wildfires is predicted to increase in the coming years. Therefore, understanding long-term natural fire dynamics and their effect on peatland functionality will provide crucial information for peatland management and preservation policies. To investigate the long-term fire history of Western Canada and its effect on peat accumulation and vegetation succession, we analyzed macroscopic plant remains and charcoal within peat cores taken from five peatlands in the region. Records of the most recent fire events were derived from fire scars and documented fires in the study area. Regional long-term peatland fire patterns were examined by pooling together macroscopic charcoal records and calculating 100 year moving averages. All studied sites, except the northernmost one, demonstrated repeated fires throughout the past 1500 years, suggesting that fires have been an integral part of the peatland ecosystem in Western Canada. Compiled charcoal records indicated a peak in fire activity, with the highest abundance of charcoal for the period from the 1300s to the 1550s and decreasing fire activity during recent centuries. The clear and consistent post-fire increase in the abundance of Sphagnum mosses suggests a relatively rapid recovery of peatland ecosystems after burning. The regeneration pattern, where pre-fire vegetation repeatedly re-establishes, suggests that from a long-term perspective, fires do not necessarily have a negative effect on peatland functioning and peat accumulation. In conclusion, peatlands could remain as effective carbon sinks if their natural state is secured.

Recovery of Smelter-Impacted Peat and Sphagnum Moss: a Microbial Perspective.

Peatlands store approximately one-half of terrestrial soil carbon and one-tenth of non-glacial freshwater. Some of these important ecosystems are located near heavy metal emitting smelters. To improve the understanding of smelter impacts and potential recovery after initial pollution controls in the 1970s (roughly 50 years of potential recovery), we sampled peatlands along a distance gradient of 134 km from a smelter in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, an area with over a century of nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) mining activity. This work is aimed at evaluating potential shifts in bacterial and archaeal community structures in Sphagnum moss and its underlying peat within smelter-impacted poor fens. In peat, total Ni and Cu concentrations were higher (0.062-0.067 and 0.110-0.208 mg/g, respectively) at sites close to the smelter and exponentially dropped with distance from the smelter. This exponential decrease in Ni concentrations was also observed in Sphagnum. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing showed that peat and Sphagnum moss host distinct microbiomes with peat accommodating a more diverse community structure. The microbiomes of Sphagnum were dominated by Proteobacteria (62.5%), followed by Acidobacteria (11.9%), with no observable trends with distance from the smelter. Dominance of Acidobacteria (32.4%) and Proteobacteria (29.6%) in peat was reported across all sites. No drift in taxonomy was seen across the distance gradient or from the reference sites, suggesting a potential microbiome recovery toward that of the reference peatlands microbiomes after decades of pollution controls. These results advance the understanding of peat and Sphagnum moss microbiomes, as well as depict the sensitivities and the resilience of peatland ecosystems.

In Vitro Conversion of Coffea spp. Somatic Embryos in SETIS™ Bioreactor System.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an excellent example of mass plant propagation. Due to its genetic variability and low somaclonal variation, coffee SE has become a model for in vitro propagation of woody species, as well as for large-scale production of vigorous plants that are advantageous to modern agriculture. The success of the large-scale propagation of an embryogenic system is dependent on the development, optimization, and transfer of complementary system technologies. In this study, two successful SE systems were combined with a SETIS™ bioreactor immersion system to develop an efficient and cost-effective approach for the in vitro development of somatic embryos of Coffea spp. This study used an efficient protocol for obtaining somatic embryos, utilizing direct and indirect SE for both C. canephora and C. arabica. Embryos in the cotyledonary stage were deposited in a bioreactor to complete their stage of development from embryo to plant with minimal manipulation. Following ten weeks of cultivation in the bioreactor, complete and vigorous plants were obtained. Different parameters such as fresh weight, length, number of leaves, and root length, as well as stomatal index and relative water content, were recorded. In addition, the survival rate and ex vitro development of plantlets during acclimatization was assessed. The best substrate combination was garden soil (GS), peat moss (PM), and agrolite (A) in a 1:1:0.5 ratio, in which the bioreactor-regenerated plants showed an acclimatization rate greater than 90%. This is the first report on the use of SETIS™ bioreactors for the in vitro development of somatic embryos in Coffea spp., providing a technology that could be utilized for the commercial in vitro propagation of coffee plants. A link between research and innovation is necessary to establish means of communication that facilitate technology transfer. This protocol can serve as a basis for the generation and scaling of different species of agroeconomic importance. However, other bottlenecks in the production chains and the field must be addressed.

Effect on Vegetative Growth and Development of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) in Potting Mixture System under Shade Net Conditions cv. Winter Dawn

In Prayagraj agro climatic conditions strawberry is produced with high-technology, but there is little research on the productivity of strawberry in Potting media mixture under shade net conditions. The present study was conducted to compare single potting media for the strawberry. The conventional method was used for the comparison study. In this method, uniform runners of the strawberry cultivar Winter Dawn were grown in pots with growing medium consisting of goat manure, vermiculite, and peat moss in various ratios on a volume-to-volume basis. Additionally, Ponic green's 3-part Nute hydroponic nutrient set was applied to the plants via foliar spray at fortnightly intervals. In order to meet the nutritional requirements of each individual plant and ensure that the uppermost layer of the pots remained adequately moist, the irrigation process was carefully monitored. Based on both years2021- 22research trail findings of this study. It was determined to have the greatest growth traits for every growth, flowering and fruit weight criteria.

Characteristic Photoprotective Molecules from the Sphagnum World: A Solution-Phase Ultrafast Study of Sphagnic Acid.

A natural UV-absorbing chromophore extracted from sphagnum mosses, sphagnic acid, is proposed as a new natural support to chemical UV filters for use in cosmetic applications. Sphagnic acid is structurally related to the cinnamate family of molecules, known for their strong UV absorption, efficient non-radiative decay, and antioxidant properties. In this study, transient electronic absorption spectroscopy is used, in conjunction with steady-state techniques, to model the photodynamics following photoexcitation of sphagnic acid in different solvent systems. Sphagnic acid was found in each system to relax with lifetimes of ~200 fs and ~1.5 ps before generating a cis-isomer photoproduct. This study helps to elucidate the photoprotective mechanism of a new potential natural support to sunscreens, from a unique plant source.

Comparison of carbon and nitrogen accumulation rate between bog and fen phases in a pristine peatland with the fen-bog transition.

Long-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics in peatlands are affected by both vegetation production and decomposition processes. Here, we examined the carbon accumulation rate (CAR), nitrogen accumulation rate (NAR) and δ13 C, δ15 N of plant residuals in a peat core dated back to ~8500 cal year BP in a temperate peatland in Northeast China. Impacted by the tephra during 1160 and 789 cal year BP and climate change, the peatland changed from a fen dominated by vascular plants to a bog dominated by Sphagnum mosses. We used the Clymo model to quantify peat addition rate and decay constant for acrotelm and catotelm layers during both bog and fen phases. Our studied peatland was dominated by Sphagnum fuscum during the bog phase (789 to -59 cal year BP) and lower accumulation rates in the acrotelm layer was found during this phase, suggesting the dominant role of volcanic eruption in the CAR of the peat core. Both mean CAR and NAR were higher during the bog phase than during the fen phase in our study, consistent with the results of the only one similar study in the literature. Because the input rate of organic matter was considered to be lower during the bog phase, the decomposition process must have been much lower during the bog phase than during the fen phase and potentially controlled CAR and NAR. During the fen phase, CAR was also lower under higher temperature and summer insolation, conditions beneficial for decomposition. δ15 N of Sphagnum hinted that nitrogen fixation had a positive effect on nitrogen accumulation, particular in recent decades. Our study suggested that decomposition is more important for carbon and nitrogen sequestration than production in peatlands in most conditions and if future climate changes or human disturbance increase decomposition rate, carbon sequestration in peatlands will be jeopardized.